The CFL has announced a list of 18 players from five different countries who will appear at the CFL Combine taking place in Toronto this weekend.
The ‘international’ players will be tested alongside prospects eligible for the 2019 CFL Draft.
Several delegates from each nation’s football federation will be attending the Combine to take in the events. This is a continuation of what the league is calling CFL 2.0.
This is completely on-trend for football right now too. Our writer Jonathan Cumbleton has been examining the international players the NFL is looking at too.
It’s a European Movement
The 18 international players are all of European origin. They hail
from Germany, France, Finland, Denmark and Italy.
This follows CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie’s European tour. During which deals were reached with a variety of football federations.
Germany
Germany is sending six players. They are as follows:
Thiadric Hansen (linebacker) and Max Earvin Zimmerman (wide receiver) of the Potsdam Royals.
Marc Anthony Hor (wide receiver) of the Frankfurt Universe.
Hendrik Schwarz (wide receiver) Marburg Mercenaries.
Johannes Zirngibl (defensive end) Straubing Spiders.
Last but not least, Sonny Weishaupt (quarterback) of the Grenoble Centaures. As the only QB in the list, AFI Review did a great feature on Sonny recently that is well worth a read.
France
France is sending four players. They are as follows:
Benjamin Plu, (wide receiver) of the Thonon Black Panthers.
Valentin Gnahoua, (defensive lineman) Berlin Rebels.
Asnnel Robo, (running back) University of Montreal.
Maxime Rouyer, (linebacker) McGill University.
Finland
The Finns are sending four players. They are as follows:
Kimi Linnainmaa (wide receiver) and Okko Outinen (defensive lineman) Helsinki Roosters.
Artui Tennberg (offensive line) Porvoon Butchers.
Roni Salonen (linebacker) Braunschweig New Yorker Lions.
Denmark
Denmark will be represented by two players. They are:
Frederik Myrup Nielsen, (wide receiver) who is the third player on the list of the Potsdam Royals.
Mads Marquard Nielsen, (defensive line) Copenhagen Towers.
Italy
Italy rounds out the list by matching the Danish and sending two players. They are:
Jordan Bouah (wide receiver) of the Saddleback College Gauchos.
Alessandro Vergani, (right tackle) Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns.
It should be fun
This is the first time in CFL history that European players will take part in the combine.
They are pioneers and whatever happens they should enjoy it. Even if none of them make it they will be gaining a great experience.
The CFL has secured partnerships with a range of federations. They include
Mexico, Germany, Austria, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Italy.
Mexican players may seem like the most notable absence here. That is because the CFL held a combine in Mexico City in January. As well as holding a three-round draft the next day.
And Finally…
The combine is always fun. Finding out about the international players has added another element to that.
What is great is seeing how global the game really is. It is fun to find out about other teams and leagues that perhaps you didn’t know so much about before.
Because of that I might to just have to keep a better eye on the clearly competitive GFL for instance!
Banner image from the Winnipeg Sun
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